The award will be given out during a special ceremony at halftime during the NAU Homecoming game in the Skydome on Saturday, October 25. This award is presented to an alumna/alumnus who has achieved outstanding success in his or her professional career.

Mary Lynn Coleman, guidance counselor at Cibola High School, is being honored by the Northern Arizona University Alumni Association and will be receiving the Dwight Patterson Alumna/Alumnus of the Year Award.

Coleman has worked in the field of education for 40 years and has been a part of the Yuma Union High School District for over 20 years working in various roles: teacher, counselor, guidance director, assistant principal, principal, and executive director of human resources.

“It is one of those rare careers that you can actually have an impact that will benefit someone’s life,” said Coleman when discussing the role of an educator and working with the students of Yuma County.